[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 71 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PRAISING BOBBI WILSON AND CONDEMNING RACISM

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Bobbi Wilson and her 
attempts to rid our neighborhoods of the invasive spotted lantern 
flies.
  Bobbi Wilson is 9 years old and a young lady from Caldwell, New 
Jersey. When she learned about the dangers of spotted lantern flies, 
she made it her mission to collect and kill as many of them as 
possible.
  This invasive species is so dangerous to local plants and trees that 
ecologists urge residents to squash them on sight.
  Unfortunately, a local Republican Party leader called the police on 
her. He said that he was scared when he saw a young, 9-year-old Black 
female in his neighborhood.
  I am livid that even Black children doing good deeds are subjected to 
the abject racism that infects this country.
  Luckily, Bobbi Wilson was praised locally and nationally for her 
efforts. She earned recognition during a city council meeting and even 
from Yale University. No child in America should have to face the 
police for doing good deeds in their community.

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